The question of whether Kiran Rao’s film “Laapataa Ladies” is inspired by an Arabic film has ignited considerable discussion across the internet. Released in 2023, this film garnered significant praise and was chosen as India’s official submission for the Oscars in 2025.
However, the production, which is associated with Aamir Khan, has come under scrutiny following claims from some online users that it bears a resemblance to the Arabic film “Burqa City.” The discourse surrounding Rao’s work intensified when viewers began to draw parallels between the two films, particularly after a clip from the 2019 short film “Burqa City,”
directed by Fabrice Bracq, gained traction. This 19-minute film, set in the Middle East, narrates the tale of a newlywed man whose wife is inadvertently exchanged with another woman, both of whom are clad in black burqas. In a similar vein, “Laapataa Ladies” tells the story of a newly married groom whose wife goes missing after he mistakenly brings home another woman, whose face is obscured by a bridal veil. This shared theme of bride swapping has led to extensive online discussions.
The notable similarities in the narratives of “Burqa City” and “Laapataa Ladies” have sparked a significant debate regarding potential plagiarism, with users on X expressing their discontent towards Rao for allegedly replicating elements from the earlier film. Many social media users have taken to sharing clips from both productions to highlight these comparisons, with one user remarking, “This is how Kiran Rao, ex-wife of Aamir Khan, turned everything bad about Burqa into everything wrong with Ghunghat. Kiran Rao shamelessly copied ‘Burqa City’ (2019) and made ‘Laapataa Ladies’ (2023). Disappointingly, many right-minded people fell for this.”
